The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Madhya Pradesh has booked former Collector Shilpa Gupta and District Manager of Livelihood Mission in school uniform scam worth Rs 6.40 crore; school uniform of 2.40 lakh students of primary and middle school were to be procured but irregularities were found in the procurement.
According to AIG (EOW) Navin Choudhary, the complaint has been registered after the investigation based on the application submitted by Advocate Rajiv Sharma of Ashok Vihar Colony. In the complaint it was stated that the then Collector of Shivpuri, Shilpa Gupta, Livelihood Mission's District Manager, Arvind Bhargava and others have colluded to gain from the purchase order of Rs 14.40 crore. In the purchase and distribution of school uniforms in the Government schools in the year 2018- 19 irregularities were found which were around Rs 6.40 crore.
For the further investigation the SP EOW Bhopal has forwarded complaint number 31/2019 to SP Gwalior. The EOW has given instructions to SP Gwalior to ensure action within the time limit.
The complainant has claimed that a Budget of Rs 14.40 crores was allocated from the State Education Center for the distribution of 2. 40 lakh uniform to school children in Shivpuri district through Self Help Groups and was facilitated by Livelihood Mission by September 15, 2018, but in the purchase of these uniforms but the then Mission Director and Shivpuri Collector Shilpa Gupta and State Livelihood Mission’s District Manager Arvind Bhargava have not ensured timely distribution and not followed specifications of the Bureau of Indian Standards and these officials colluded for corruption of Rs 6.40 crore. In the present scenario after the end of the academic session, delivery of uniforms has not been ensured, which is in itself a serious negligence and corruption is itself.